Cheerleading Info Center

How to Coach Cheerleading - Common Cheerleading Stunting Mistakes and Solutions

Stunting is SO MUCH FUN but it takes time to master! So to help you get their quicker, you should cultivate great stunting habits and avoid some common mistakes:

1.) You have Stunt Position Miss-Matches: Most everyone wants to be the flyer – we all know it! However, when you are starting and very few, if any of your athletes know proper technique, you MUST choose stunt positions based on body size to help prevent injuries.

2.) The Spotter Backs Up: It is a normal tendency to back up when something is coming your way. However, when you are a Spotter and your Flyer is coming down, you must lean in to catch them.

3.) You have Several Stunt Captains in the Same Group: You should have 1 person in charge of your stunt group ( generally the Spotter as they can see when everyone is ready ) If you have several people talking, someone may not be able to hear instructions and that is when injuries happen.

4.) Progression is your Goal: Stunting looks so easy when you watch a college team or great all star team. Remember, it took YEARS for all of their athletes to get that good! When stunting, it is important that you START AT THE BEGINNING and not just try a stunt because it looks easy. Perfection should be your goal – perfecting a stunt before progressing on to the next one.  

For more Cheerleading Stunting Tips, Mistakes and Solutions, check out our Cheerleading Stunting Section and JOIN the #1 Resource for Cheerleading Coaches TODAY!

 

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How to Coach Cheerleading - Cheerleading Stunting Safety Tips

Cheerleading Safety Tips:

• Perfection before progressions!!! Make sure ALL of your stunt group members are READY to try a new stunt before you attempt it.
• Use HANDS ON SPOTTING for all stunts to help minimize falls and injuries.
• Look at the area where you are stunting and make sure you have plenty of room and proper safety mats. Also, if you are outside, check to see if there are any rocks, sticks or uneven ground that my through your group off.
• Only stunt when every member of your team has the proper attire on! That means everyone must have athletic shoes and proper clothing with no jewelry, and hair pulled back.  Please note, do not wear shorts with pockets as they can catch your flyer’s feet on the way down and make them fall.

For more cheerleading stunting tips, check out our Cheerleading Coaching Center and JOIN the #1 Cheerleading Resource Community for Coaches!

 

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How to Coach Cheerleading - How to Teach Cheerleading

 

When teaching new skills to your cheerleaders, here are some tips to keep in mind to help them absorb the curriculum easier to learn faster:

1. Make it FUN and SMILE - it so SO MUCH easier to pay attention to someone who is having fun and friendly. :-)
2. Be Prepared!!!!! If you start teaching and don't know what comes next, you will lose the respect and attention of your team.
3. Put your team in a formation and not just standing anywhere - structure is a great thing!
4. SHOW what you are teaching FIRST to give the team an idea of what you expect. Obviously you can not show the stunts but you can do the motions.
5. When teaching, there is a formula that works great: Teach feet / legs first, arms next and then add the head motions.
6. Teach SLOW and LOUD!
7. Repeat Often! Remember, repetition is the mother of skill :-)
8. ALWAYS cue the upcoming movements BEFORE they come up.
9. GIVE COMPLIMENTS as you go and reinforce the positive commitment that your team is trying and learning.

For more Great Tips, Tools, Ideas and Curriculum to help you have the BEST Cheerleading Season, Join the #1 Cheerleading Resource Community TODAY – Click HERE and Get Your FREE BONUSES with your membership!

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How to Do Cheerleading Jumps

Are you ready to have AMAZING Cheerleading Jumps?  Let us help you get there quickly with the Cheerleading Jumps Book from the CIC Cheerleading Mastery Series! 

We have everything you need to know to get started and to master your jumps including the Toe Touch!!!    Here is what you will be getting to help you have GORGEOUS Jumps:

• Detailed photos, descriptions and tips of the 8 Cheerleading Jumps including: the Toe Touch, Front Hurdler, Straight Jump, Tuck, Herkey, Spread Eagle, Double Hook and the Side Hurdler.

• 3 Easy Stretches to improve your flexibility.

• 5 Jump Exercises to give you gorgeous jumps.

• 9 Common Mistakes and Easy Solutions.

• 6 Practice Tips to help you practice on your own.

• Detailed breakdown of the approach and landing of your jumps.

• Practice Log to help you reach your jump goals.

• $5 Coupon to TheCheerleadingShop.com

Get your copy TODAY at TheCheerleadingShop.com

How to Communicate with Your Team and Parents

Now that your season is going, it is a must that you communicate with your cheerleaders and parents on a regular basis.  Check out the latest article on the Cheerleading Coaching Center for the TOP 7 COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS that you can use for you team and see which one is best for you!  :-)

How to Be a Great Leader

If you are a Cheerleading Coach or Captain, check out these Top Leadership Tips on the Cheerleading Coaching Center to help lead your team to success. 

Learning Tips to Maximize Your Experience at Cheerleading Summer Camp

Welcome to Summer!  And that means it’s time for cheerleading summer camp! What an exciting start to your season!

Some teams are traveling to a week long program in another state, while other teams are having a camp at their school in their gym.  No matter where your team is headed, get ready for some fun while you learn, try, and do new things; here’s are some tips to help you maximize your learning experience at your camp:

First day jitters.  Don’t worry everybody gets them so try to relax and have fun.

Learn:  Now is a time to learn new skills and get tips on how to perfect them. This is where the learning starts.  Remember, cheerleading teams don’t start with the skills to do complex transitional pyramids and individual cheerleaders don’t start out doing round off back handspring, back tucks. Everybody starts somewhere and usually they get that introduction at camp.

To maximize your learning at camp, here are some things to consider:

• Know your teams starting skill levels; this includes stunting, tumbling, dance and leadership skills.
• Set some goals with your team about where you are and what you would like to accomplish at camp.  (Click Here to our Team Goal Setting Sheet)
• When you set your goals, try to narrow them down to at most 2 main goals in each cheer skill that you want to get out of camp. For example, you want to learn 2 big stunting sequences and 2 dances.
• Once you have set your team goals, bring them to camp to remind your team of why you are there. Also, you can share your goals with the camp staff so when you have some one on one practice time with the staff, they can specifically help you.
• Remind your squad that everyone is learning, mistakes are expected and that you rarely get things on the first try so KEEP TRYING!
• Keep the learning portion light and positive.  Give out compliments, rewards and make the learning FUN!
• When learning dances, split up your team and send a small delegation to each of the routines as it is difficult to remember 2 or more routines, plus cheers, stunts etc. For example, if you send 5 girls to the hip hop dance and 5 different girls to the fight song, you are more likely to come back home with girls who will remember all of the curriculum.

For MORE Cheerleading Summer Camp Tips on how to maximize your cheerleading summer camp experience, CLICK HERE

Cheerleading Tryouts Made EASY

How to Coach Cheerleading - Cheerleading Stunting Tips

 

As stunting is the most serious part of cheerleading ( and tons of fun ), here are some tips to remember to make sure your stunting experience is awesome!

• NEVER STUNT WITHOUT A SPOTTER!
• NEVER try an stunt that you are not ready for – Perfection before Progression!!!
• Always pay attention to your group when you are stunting. Never start the stunt when someone is not ready.
• Remember, technique is EVERYTHING!!!
• When you are starting, make sure you select your stunt positions based on body size. For example, if you have really tall athlete, they would be a really good spotter.  If you have a really small athlete, they would should be your first flyer.   At the beginning, your athletes don’t know proper technique yet so for safety reasons it is important to choose your positions by body size.  Once your team progresses and are ALL aware of proper technique, you can move athletes around based on skill.
• There should be no laughing or fooling around during stunt time. Generally, if someone is playing around during your stunt practice and not paying attention, they should sit out and not participate.  SAFETY FIRST!
• No extra talking during stunt class. Talking should be kept to giving cues to your stunting partners.

 

For more stunting tips, check out the cheerleading stunting section on our Cheerleading Coaching Center and JOIN the #1 Cheerleading Coaching Community Today!

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How to Coach Cheerleading - Anti-Bullying Solutions and Tips to Create a Unified, Happy and Productive Team

   

As your season progresses, do you start to notice that some members on your team do not interact with some of the other teammates?  Do you see signs of possible “bullying”?  Here are some things to keep in mind and to help create a unified, happy and productive team:

1.  Have a conversation with your entire team about bullying and make sure EVERY CHEERLEADER is heard and encourage everyone to give their input.

For example, have the cheerleaders sit in a circle during your conversation so everyone can see each other.  As the facilitator, ask them questions and then have EVERY cheerleader give their answer.  Here are some questions to ask:

• Ask the team what they think bullying is and to give examples.
• How does it make you FEEL when you are “bullied” or feel disrespected?
• Who here has maybe said something that is not so nice to someone else? How does it make you feel to say negative things to others?
• Do you want people to say these things to you or treat you this way?
• How does it make you FEEL to be NICE to someone?
• To help someone?
• To stand up for someone?

 

2.  During your team meeting, discuss options for your athletes of what they can do when they feel they are being bullied.  For ideas, check out the full article HERE.

 

3.  When you see cliques or mini teams beginning to form on your team, it is imperative that you promptly have the athletes start working with other teammates too.  Check out our full article for team building ideas HERE.

 

4.  Have everyone sign an Anti-Bullying Contract as a TEAM.

For more Anit-Bullying Solution, check out the   Cheerleading Coaching Center Solutions HERE.